Seam formation indicator apparatus for sewing machines



Dec. 4, 1962 R. REEBER ET AL 3,

SEAM FORMATION INDICATOR APPARATUS. FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 18.1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l //vv/vroRs RUDOLF REEBER HERBERT wEN Dec. 4, 1962R. REEBER ET AL SEAM FORMATION INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINESFiled March 18. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm MMNVVIM lA/VfA/I'ORS RUDOLFREEBER HERBERT WENZ Dec. 4, 1962 R. REEBER ET AL 3,066,623

SEAM FORMATION INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 18.1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 RUDOLF RE B RBERT wsuz Dec. 4, 1962 R. REEBER ETAL3,066,623

SEAM FORMATION INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 18.1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 nQnP-u H :LQ IHLAQQE 765 llllllll III-r xmawm smu139 w-ImmunuuwA-n rrr lNVE/VTORS RUDOLF REEBER HERBERT WENZ SEAMFORMATION INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1959Dec. 4, 1962 R. REEBER ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I0

lNVE/VTOR RUDQLF aaaesa HERBERT WENZ 74 W av W United States PatentOffice 3,066,623 Patented Dec. 4., 1962 3,t66,623 SEAR/I FORMATIGNINDECA'IUR APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Rudolf Reeber and Herbert Wenz,Kaiserslautern, Pfalz,

Germany, assignors to G. M. Pfatf A.G., Kaiserslautern, Pfalz, Germany,a joint-stock company of Germany Filed Mar. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 8%,241Claims priority, application Germany Mar. 19, 1958 4 Ciaims. ((11.tl2--153) The present invention relates to apparatus for indicating seamformation adjustments on sewing machines fitted with an ornamental seamdevice.

In sewing machines having an ornamental seam device, connections withvarious control means can be established by means of adjusting knobs,changeover switches or the like setting means whereby the positions ofmechanisms for determining a predetermined seam formation are changed ina periodically repeating cycle. The appropriate seam formation isautomatically indicated.

The said devices determining the seam formation on so-called indirectlycontrolled automatic machines are the mechanisms for changing the stitchposition, the stitch width and, if preferred, the material feed. Onso-called directly controlled automatic machines these devices are theneedle bar oscillator with its movement mechanism and, if preferred, adevice for adjusting the material feed. Thus a plurality of scamformations may be sewn by a machine in accordance with the combinationsbetween the various actuated control means of the individual devices.

The object of the present invention is to make it possible to indicate alarge number of scam formations with the smallest possible number ofmechanisms for establishing the connections between the devices to becontrolled and the control means. This is achieved according to theinvention by an arrangement of multiple indicating means such that, bythe co-operation thereof, any desired seam formation is indicated on theseam forming scale.

in a preferred embodiment of the invention several indicating means,each in operative engagement with the change-over switch, or othersetting means are provided and together indicate the seam formation sewnaccording to the adjustments of the setting means so that they point, ona field of relatively intersecting seam-forming groups, to the point ofintersection of all those seam-forming groups to which the sewn seamformation belongs, in that each of these contains all the seamformations capable of being sewn in any given position of the settingmeans.

Further features of the invention and details of the advantages achievedthereby will be apparent from the following description in conjunctionwith the drawings in which several embodiments of the invention areillustrated by way of example and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows one embodiment in plan view of an arm of a sewing machinewith the ornamental seam device and the cover removed, non-essentialparts being omitted for better understanding of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of FIGURE FIGURE 3 is adevelopment of the drum or roller of FIGURES l and 2 which carries theseam formations,

FIGURE 4 is a development of an indicating cylinder surrounding the drumor roller of FIGURES 1-3.

FIGURE 5 illustrates in plan view a second embodiment in a mannersimilar to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a section on the line Vl-VI of FIG- URE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a view on the line VII--VII of FIG- URE 6.

FlGURE 8 shows a development of the drum or roller of FIGURES 57 whichcarry the seam formations, but illustrating the group characteristics ofthe seam formations instead of the seam formations themselves.

FIGURE 9 is a development of the indicating cylinder surrounding theroller in FIGURES 5-8.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a further embodiment showing a development of thedrum or roller bearing the seam formations and on which groupcharacteristics of the seam formation are shown.

in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 a carrier plate 2 ismounted on an arm 1 of a sewing machine by means of screws 3. lournalledon the carrier plate 2 is a vertical shaft 4' on which six pattern camdiscs 5 are mounted one above the other. Only three of these are shownin the drawing. The shaft 4 is driven by the arm shaft 6 of the machineby way of pinion gears 6a and 6!; or the like.

Pairs of rocking levers 8, 8a and 10, 10a are rotatably mounted on bothsides of the pattern cam disc assembly on pins 12 and 13 secured to thecarrier plate 2 and are rigidly connected by spindles 14 and 15 so thatthey each form a transmission rocker arm 9 and. If respectively. Bymeans of draw bars 16 and 17 they are mechanically connected in anydesired manner (not shown) with the setting members of the devices forchanging the stitch width and stitch length which may also beconstructed in any desired manner and are therefore not shown. Springs 7and 7a are connected to bars 16 and 17, respectively, so that thetransmission rocker arms and 11 are normally urged towards the shaft 4of the pattern cam disc assembly so far as the maximum deflection of thesaid devices permits.

Six scanning fingers I8 and 19 are journalled to swing freely on thespindles 14 and 15 respectively and on bot sides of each of the sixpattern cam discs is located, on the same level therewith, one each ofthe six scanning fingers 18 and 19 respectively. On the same level witheach one of the scanning fingers l8 and 19, there are supporting fingers2t) and 21 which project radially from a hub 22 or 23 and are arrangedin stepped relationship to one another circumferentially of each hub.The hubs 22 and 23 are rigidly connected to perpendicular spindles orshafts 24 and 25, respectively which in turn are journalled in thesupporting plate 2 and are each connected to a knurled knob 26 and 27respectively projecting beyond the arm 1. A locking device (not shown)locks each of the rotary knobs 26 and :27 and conse quently, the hubs 22and 23 in the position shown in FIGURE 1 and in all positions whichdiffer from the position shown in FIGURE 1 by a whole multiple of theangle between adjacent supporting fingers 20 and 21 respectively. Theseare disposed in groups of six opposite each other at spaces of of 360 sothat an empty place in an otherwise uniform series of supporting fingers2d and 21 is provided on the hubs 22 and 23 respectively. The turning ofthe knob 26 or 27 which operate as change-over switches or the likesetting means from one locking position to another has the result thatthe supporting finger 29 or 21, which at any instant is in abutment withthe scanning fingers 18 and 19 associated therewith, is angularlydisplaced out of contact therewith and another supporting finger isbrought into contact with the scanning finger associated therewith. Inthis Way it is possible selectively to bring any one of the scanningfingers 18 or 19 into operation by its supporting finger 2%) or 21respectively, while in one position of each hub 22, 23, owing to theempty place in the otherwise uniform series of supporting fingers 20 and21, there is no contact by a finger 20, 21 with any scanning finger 18or 19.

The supporting of any scanning finger 18, 19 has the result that thelatter, on the swinging out of its scanning end 28 or 29 under theinfluence of the pattern cam disc associated therewith, cannot swingunimpeded about the Spindle 14 or 15. Instead it Slides on a surface 30or 31, as the case may be, on the supporting finger 26 or 21 associatedtherewith and adjusts, by way of the transmission rocker arm 9 or 11,the stitch width or the stitch position, synchronously with the shape ofthe curve of the pattern cam disc associated therewith. The otherpattern cam discs are inoperative, since the deflections of theunsupported scanning fingers 18 or 19 associated therewith are etfectedmerely about the spindle 14 or 15 without reacting on the transmissionrocker arm 9 or 11. Therefore only the pattern cam disc, the scanningfinger 18 or 19 of which co-operates with the supporting finger 20 or21, is operative.

If, owing to the empty place in the series of scanning fingers 20 or 21,none of the scanning fingers 18 or 19 of a transmission rocker arm 9 or11 is supported, none of the cam discs acts on the appropriatetransmission rocker arm 9 or 11, since the latter can be swung out onlyas far as the maximum deflection of the device of the sewing machineconnected therewith towards the pattern cam disc and even in thisposition, which is approximately the most remote, the scanning fingers18 or 19, owing to the empty place on the roller 22 or 23, havesufficient space outside the area of the greatest curve radius. In thisoperative condition the appropriate device of the sewing machine can belocked by hand in any desired position over its entire range ofadjustment.

Secured to the plate 2, by means of screws 32, 33, are bearing arms 34,35, in which shafts 36, 37 are respectively journalled to rotate but areprevented from axial displacement. Both shafts 36 and 37 extend intobore 38 of a drum or roller 39, but although the shaft 36 isnon-rotatably connected with the roller 39 by means of a set screw 41),the shaft 37 and the roller 39 may turn relatively to each other. On theother hand, the shaft 37 is non-rotatably connected by means of a setscrew 41 to a transparent indicating cylinder 42 surrounding the roller31 at a small distance therefrom.

Mounted by means of a set screw 43 on the shaft 36 is a helical gearwheel 44 while a similar helical gear 46 is mounted on the shaft 37, andis keyed thereto by a set screw 45.

The gears 44, 46 engage respectively with a helical gear wheel 47 on theshaft 24 and a helical gear wheel 48 on the shaft 25. In this mannerangular displacement of the knobs 26 and 27, apart from the selection ofa pattern cam disc already described above, eifects rotation of theshafts 36 and 37 through the same angle of displacement of the knobs 26,27 since the helical gear wheel transmissions 44-47 and 4648 have theratio 1:1, in each case.

The development of the drum or roller 39 shown in FIGURE 3 shows theseam formations in seam forming gTOUPS 1: 2: 3 4: 6: 0: 1: 2: 3 4 5! and6: each group l of which contains the seam formation capable of beingsewn when switching the stitch position adjusting device to one of thepattern cam discs, that is to say, when adjusting this device to one ofits possible cycle forms, and likewise each group 12 contains the seamformation capable of being sewn with the adjustment of the stitch widthadjusting device to one of its possible cycle forms. The stitch forminggroups l -l form together a number of stitch-forming series whichtraverse the series of the group b --b The series of the group b bextend parallel to the axis of the roller 39 and to an indicator window49 in the cover 5d of the machine casing. By turning the knob 26 usedfor changing over, any desired series out of the groups b -b can bebrought into register with the indicating window 49, while theappropriate automatically controlled cycle is simultaneously adjustedfor the stitch width adjusting device.

The transparent indicating cylinder 42 which can be turned by the knob27 acting as a change-over switch, and a development of which is shownin FIGURE 4, is provided with diagonal indicating marks 51, each ofwhich is associated with the stitch-forming group I and when it appearsunder the indicating window 49 in the cover 56 the seam formation of theassociated group I capable of being sewn is indicated when the knob 27is in this position of adjustment. At the same time, the stitch positionadjusting device is simultaneously adjusted to the appropriate automaticcontrol cycle.

The indicatin window 49 in the cover 56 forms together with therotatable roller 39 an indicating means, the rotatable indicatingcylinder 42. forms another indicating means, both of which point to theintersection point of the seam formation group b and I with which thesewn seam formation is associated.

The seam forming groups [1 and l each correspond to the position of theknobs 26 and 27 in which, owing to the empty place in the otherwiseuniform series of supporting fingers 20 or 21, the stitch width andstitch position adjusting device is free for hand adjustment. If bothdevices are available for hand adjustment the field at the point ofintersecting b and l is indicated by the word off which indicates to theoperator the switched-off position of the entire automatic controldevice.

The embodiment shown in FIGURES 5-9 is a variation of that in FIGURES1-4 Where the automatic control is provided by three devices on thesewing machine which influence the seam formation. The basicconstruction corresponds to that shown in FIGURES l and 2, and for thisreason is not dealt with hereinafter in greater detail as far as theidentical parts are concerned.

Diifering however from the construction illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2two transmission rocker arms 111 and 153 are now provided on the pin113, instead of a single transmission rocker arm, each with a draw bar117 and 154 and a spindle and for the scanning fingers 119 and 156. Onthe transmission rocker arm 111 there are only four scanning fingers 119(see FIGURE 6) and for this reason the hub 123 also carries only foursupporting fingers 121 which are relatively separated by angles of /s of360. In this way an empty place is again produced in an otherwiseregular series of supporting fingers 121.

The knob 127 connected to the shaft 125 accordingly has five lockingpositions (four for the working posi-' tions of the four supportingfingers 121 and one for the empty position on the hub 123). Accordinglythe indicating cylinder 43 driven from the shaft 125 by way of thehelical gear wheels 148 and 146 has only five diagonal indicating marks151 (FIGURE 9). The stitch position adjusting device controlled by thetransmission rocker arm 1-11 and the draw bar 117 can therefore beadjusted only to four different automatically controlled pattern discsorwhen the control is switched oif-by hand to a fixed value.

While the knob 127, the helical gear wheels 148 and the hub 12?: arerigidly connected to the shaft 125, a roller 157 is mounted to rotateloosely on the shaft 125. The roller 157 carries two supporting fingers153 and an operating arm 159 which is connected by way of a link 160 toa switch lever 161. The latter is pivotably journalled about a spindle162 on the supporting plate 162 and engages by means of a locking device(not shown) in three positions, one of which is indicated in full linesin FIGURE 5 while the two others are shown in chain dotted lines. In thetwo outer positions of the switch lever 161 one of the two supportinglevers 158 is in the operative position in each case, i.e. in abutmentwith the scanning finger 156 associated therewith. In the centerposition of the switch lever 161 both scanning fingers 156 areunsupported, the device controlled by the transmission rocker arm 153,which in the em- 5 bodiment illustrated is the device for changing thematerial feed, is available for hand adjustment.

Journalled on the inside cover 150, below the indicating window 149, isa slide 164, which is constructed in the manner of a comb with fiveteeth or pointers 163, the slide having slots 166 in which pins 165 ofthe cover 150 engage. When the cover is in position the switch lever 161engages in a recess 167 of the slide 164 and during its displacementinto any of its three operative positions, it displaces the slide intothree corresponding indicating positions and the pointer 163 into threeadjacent positions registering with a window 151 in the cylinder 142.

In the development of the seam formation roller 139 shown in FIGURE 8the group characteristics of the seam formation are illustrated insteadof the seam formations which in reality exist. Apart from the seamforming group 1 and b shown in the embodiment of FIGURES 14, which havethe same meaning as in FIGURE 8 but wherein merely the number of thegroups 1 is reduced from seven to five the seam formations are arrangedin three other groups which traverse the groups b and All the seamformations which in FIGURE 8 have the reference t are associated withone of these three groups, those bearing the reference t are associatedwith the second group and those which bear the reference t with thethird group. The indication of a group t t or t is effected by the slide164 provided with the five indicators 163 in agreement with the threeswitch positions of the switch lever 161. The indication of the group tis effected, if neither of the two supporting fingers 158 is in theoperative position, i.e. when the device for the changing of thematerial feed is free for hand adjustment, which is when the automaticfeed mechanism is switched off. The groups t and t contain the seamformations which can each be sewn in any given cycle of the automaticfeed control mechanism.

FIGURE 10 shows the arrangement of the stitch forming groups on thedevelopment of the roller 239 in accordance with the third embodiment ofthe invention. The mechanical construction of the roller correspondssubstantially to that in FIGURES 1-3, and is therefore not shown. Thedifference lies solely in the feature that the transmission rocker arm 9is replaced by two transmission rocker arms one having four and theother two scanner fingers (similarly to the transmission rocker arms 11and 153 of the second embodiment). On the other hand, the six supportingfingers for the total of six scanning fingers of these two transmissionrocker arms replacing the one are rigidly connected to a single shaftand can thus be actuated by a single knob similar to the knob 26 of thefirst embodiment.

The arrangement according to FIGURE 10 thus represents a combination ofthe first and second embodiments since, as in the first embodiment it isonly necessary to operate two change-over switches in the form of thetwo knobs and in the second embodiment the material feed, in addition tothe stitch position and stitch width, can also be controlled, viz. fromthe transmission rocker arm by the two scanner fingers, while the rockerarm with the four scanner fingers serves to control the stitch width.

Thus an arrangement of the stitch forming groups is obtained as shown inFIGURE 10, the stitch forming group b containing for example all thestitch formations in whose field, according to FIGURE 10, the sign iscontained. The group h is shown for example shaded in FIGURE 10 forgreater clarity.

When the groups 12 or or t is indicated, the automatic stitch width orstitch position or material feed control is switched off. As shown bythe arrangement of the groups in FIGURE 10, it is not possible in thisconstruction to control the stitch width and feed simultaneouslyautomatically; this disadvantage is compensated however by thesimplified form of construction in comparison with that of FIGURES 9.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described with reference to aspecific illustrative device. It will be evident, however, thatvariations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalentelements for those shown for illustration, may be made without departingfrom the scope and broader spirit of the invention as set forth in theappended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to beregarded in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Indicating means for a zig-zag sewing machine of the type comprisinga plurality of different stitch guiding means adapted in combination toselectively produce different ornamental patterns and setting means forsaid guiding means including changeover switches or the like, saidindicating means including a plurality of indicating devices eachoperatively connected with one of said setting means and adapted to bemoved thereby in unison with the particular guiding means associatedtherewith, markings on one said indicating device and movable therewithrelative to another of said indicating devices, said other indicatingdevice having markers adapted to register with and expose said markingsone at a time to reflect the symbol for the pattern setting obtained bycooperation of two said guiding means to which said indicating devicesare connected, said devices being in the form of drums arranged oneinside the other, said markings being arranged in seam formation groupscircumferentially of one said drum and said markers being in the form ofwindows disposed in steps and longitudinally of the other said drum.

2. Indicating means for a zig-zag sewing machine of the type comprisinga plurality of different stitch guiding means adapted in combination toselectively produce different ornamental patterns and setting means forsaid guiding means including changeover switches or the like, saidindicating means including a plurality of indicating devices eachoperatively connected with one of said setting means and adapted to bemoved thereby in unison with the particular guiding means associatedtherewith, markings on one said indicating device and movable therewithrelative to another of said indicating devices, said other indicatingdevice having markers adapted to register with and expose said markingsone at a time to reflect the symbol for the pattern setting obtained bycooperation of two said guiding means to which said indicating devicesare connected, said devices being in the form of drums arranged oneinside the other, said markings being arranged in seam formation groupscircumferentially of one said drum and said markers being in the form ofwindows disposed in steps and longitudinally of the other said drum, andan indicating window common to coinciding positions of said markings andsaid markers, and said drums being rotatable in response to operating ofsaid setting means.

3. Indicating means for a zig-zag sewing machine of the type comprisinga plurality of different stitch guiding means adapted in combination toselectively produce different ornamental patterns and setting means forsaid guiding means including changeover switches or the like, saidindicating means including a plurality of indicating devices eachoperatively connected with one of said setting means and adapted to bemoved thereby in unison with the particular guiding means associatedtherewith, markings on one said indicating device and movable therewithrelative to another of said indicating devices, said other indicatingdevice having markers adapted to register with and expose said markingsone at a time to reflect the symbol for the pattern setting obtained bycooperation of two said guiding means to which said indicating devicesare connected, said devices being in the form of drums arranged oneinside the other, said markings being arranged in seam formation groupscircumferentially of one said drum and said markers being in the form ofwindows disposed in steps and longitudinally of the other said 7 drum,each said setting means including a shaft and a plurality of settingfingers spaced equally around said shaft with one empty position betweentwo of said fingers constituting the inoperative position of saidpattern setting means.

4. Indicating means for a zig-zag sewing machine of the type comprisinga plurality of difierent stitch guiding means adapted in combination toselectively produce different ornamental patterns and setting means forsaid guiding means including changeover switches or the like, saidindicating means including a plurality of indicating devices eachoperatively connected with one of said setting means and adapted to bemoved thereby in unison with the particular guiding means associatedtherewith, markings on one said indicating device and movable therewithrelative to another of said indicating devices, said other indicatingdevice having markers adapted to register with and expose said markingsone at a time to reflect the symbol for the pattern setting obtained bycooperation of two said guiding means to which said indicating devicesare connected, said devices being in the form of drums arranged oneinside the other, said markings being arranged in seam formation groupscircumferentially of one said drum and said markers being in the form ofWindows disposed in steps and longitudinally of the other said drum,said guiding means including stitch location, stitch width and one otherstitch formation control mean and said markings on said drum includingseveral groups of seam formation series arranged in intersecting groups.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,069,921 Murray Feb. 9, 1937 2,584,360 Montanus Feb. 5, 1952 2,862,468Johnson Dec. 2, 1958 2,929,350 Schumacher et al Mar. 22, 1960 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,145,737 France May 13, 1957 219,620 Australia Feb. 27, 195 8

